Designing Demand is a national support programme helping UK businesses use design to improve performance.
- Do you want a new route to bigger profits?
- Are you looking for a better way to compete?
- Do you need fresh ideas to make you stand out from the rest?
Design has the potential to give you all those things, and Designing Demand helps you convert that promise into results.
Designing Demand is a national support programme that helps businesses become more competitive by getting the most out of design.
It gives managers the skills to spot how design can improve performance, and it gives them practical support to seize new-found design opportunities.
Designing Demand’s services are geared to suit businesses at different stages of development, from small start-ups looking for investment and growth, to mature businesses looking for a new strategic direction.
The programme, developed by the Design Council, has helped businesses achieve lasting benefits, including increased sales, bigger market share and better products and services.
It’s now available in Yorkshire, the South East, West Midlands, South West, London and the North East. It will go live in the remaining regions in 2009.
Businesses have the chance to progress from workshops focusing on design’s potential benefits to more intensive services which help realise those benefits.
A fast-paced, practical introduction to what design investment can do for both start-ups and established businesses. Separate workshops are available to help designers understand businesses’ needs and to help business advisors spot design opportunities in clients’ businesses.
Support for start-ups commercialising new technology. Innovate helps hi-tech ventures use design to attract investment, reduce risk, refine strategy and shorten time to market.
A chance for established businesses to devise and run a design project over five to 12 months and discover how design can solve strategic issues.
An intensive strategic workout for mature businesses, which team up with design managers to investigate how using design can deal with core issues and make a lasting impact on performance. During a design project lasting up to 18 months businesses develop a new perspective alongside practical skills including choosing, briefing and managing designers.
Designing Demand is being delivered by Regional Development Agencies and other partners. To find out more about the services, the benefits and how to book, visit the Designing Demand website.
